Even though the Treaty of Ghent ending the War of 1812 had been signed on December 24, 1814, and the British had sustained a stunning defeat at the Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815, the war still came to St. Marys. On January 13, 1815, an amphibious assault launched by Admiral Cockburn’s forces resulted in the capture of the garrison at Pt. Peter and the occupation of St. Marys. On February 24, 1815, British sailors, trapped on their barges in the middle of the St. Marys River, lost 29 men to American forces firing from the shore; the Americans lost two. Finally, on March 15, 1815, after the Treaty of Ghent had been ratified by both parties, the British withdrew from Cumberland Island.